by Shelley Fairbairn
Assessing English learners is a task fraught with complexity; how can we elicit demonstrations of content knowledge and skills from students who are still learning English? This topic has received a lot of attention in the research literature and teachers need access to this critical information. To this end, the “Accurate Assessment of English Learners” brochure constitutes a compilation of information and strategies for teachers – please share it widely!
Click above to download the PDF
Bio – After completing a master’s degree in TESL in the 90s, Shelley Fairbairn taught EFL in Jakarta, Indonesia for 3 years and ESL in Singapore for 1 year. She then taught ESL in two Des Moines area school districts prior to completing her doctoral work in Foreign Language and ESL Education at the University of Iowa in 2006. Since that time, she has served as a professor in the Drake University School of Education in Des Moines where she teaches courses in assessment and in the ESL endorsement program, which she also directs. Her research interests include effective instruction and assessment of English learners, culturally responsive pedagogy, and trauma-sensitive educational practices.
